ADAPTING NOVELS TO CATCH HOLLYWOOD'S NOTICELiterate Larry in IOWA wants to write. In fact the best writer's program in America is in AMES, IOWA. However, LITERATE LARRY thinks he cannot get his foot in the door in HOLLYWOOD. No way to afford to live there. THE GOOD NEWS. We got this POST OFFICE THING now and ANY DEVELOPMENT EXEC at any indie prod or studio will read your script. A studio READER will be assigned. You do not have to go in person and take a meeting with the development executive. So if you LOVE a book and HAVE FOUR DAYS FREE --- do a script of some book that you adore.
That's how a kid got in, he loved CUCKOO'S NEST. That script got him in the door everywhere. I studied at Loyola with a two time oscar winning adapter (his scripts are Jeremiah Johnson with Redford, Becket with OTOOLE and BURTON, Boston Strangler with Tony Curtis. The guy was good. He always warned how hard it was to get started and how luck had everything to do with his early days and he didn't feel that anybody could get Hollywood's trust and attention but after years of hearing his classes, I did see a map. Specking out scripts IS a way in!
As you know WGA writers (guild members,) cannot adapt on spec. They have to option the rights to the novel, Or producer does and he hires the scripter. And you are RIGHT that ADAPTING THING is the way for a NON WGA scribe to break in. HE DOES NOT HAVE TO OPTION the book. Say you see a novel that has 'it!' Speck it out fast as probably that novel is making the rounds and has been since months before its actual publishing date
Do your script fast! Be motivated! This is a great 'show around' script to get you thru the usually closed doors. Who knows, they may hire you
for another job they have lying around, you get to be some indie's stringer. Or 'go to.' They want financing so they get a cheap scripting
by you, who've shown yourself to be competent!Important thing is, in first meetings with producers, you show how you made novel BETTER. That it had weak elements which you FIXED. Being a
story fixer is HOT!CUCKOO'S NEST was specked out by some kid. Kirk Douglas and Michael got hold of that script and optioned it. Had the kid do a rewrite all of
this paid but I believe the final writer was WGA and don't recall what happened to the orig fellow who saw a flick in that great book. But the
fact he rode that novel INTO A STAR'S HANDS and into a STUDIO means he could take meetings on the PHONEBOOK, anywhere for years after! Whether he did or not I don't know.The important thing is to sort out chaff in novel and 'fix it' for film script, called ADAPTING.
Twice I've seen movies be much better than novel. L.A. Confidential and Devil's Advocate w. Pacino. The novels were a mess. Scripter sorted
stuff out that you literally could not have seen in the orig novel which was blah (the Devil book) or CHAOTIC (LA CON).Not that those were specked out. but sorted out. yes.
~^~^~^~^~^~ Anita Sands wrote the above about adapting novels and got a
disagreeing letter. "With all due respect and I do respect you, I do
have to disagree with a couple of things here.You need to get an author's permission to adapt their novel whether it
has been published or not if it's protected under copyright law. If you
don't you're breaking the law.(ANITA: IF U ARE WGA, YEAH)
A screenwriter shouldn't try to sell an adaptation if they don't have an
agreement in place with whoever owns the right to material. If someone
is interested in your script and you can't produce a writer's agreement
you're screwed and they aren't going to be very happy with that
screenwriter. (ANITA: NO! You tell producer at gitgo you do not own the
RIGHTS! ) Also you have to make sure the author or whoever you are
dealing with really has the rights to the material. Personally I would
want to see every agreement the author ever entered into before I would
agree to adapt the novel.Even if a producer hires me I want to see their agreement with whoever and
all other agreements. FWIW this is what a producer will want to see if they
are interested in making the film.I've been writing adaptation for a few years now and I'm currently
working on my thirtieth one. I've had a little success doing them but
I've had a few w horror stories as well that could have been avoided if
I knew better. Any way I strongly suggest anyone that wants to do
adaptations to go for it because I think it is a great way to break
into the business. However a lot of things can and will probably go
wrong if you don't do things right from the get go.If a screenwriter contacts an author or publisher and finds out a
producer has already secured the movie rights it could be worth
contacting the producer and letting them know that you are interested in
adapting the novel. FWIW that is how I ended up getting hired to write
the HOT STUFF adaptation. Also if someone adapts a novel it isn't that
difficult to attach a director with some good movie credits and that
will really help you sell the script. Anyway this is just some
information based on my own personal experience so I could be
completely wrong about everything.If you are interested in writing adaptations let me know off list. Since
I specialize in the I come across deals now and then. I do have WGA
representation and I do have contacts in the business as well."
I didn't keep his name or his letter.I piss on pussies.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *<=== BACK TO THE FRUGAL TIPS and CHEAPO LIFESTYLE WEBPAGE
THE ACTIVIST should utilize the internet and become a POSTER which is what ANITA SANDS HERNANDEZ, Los Angeles Progressive, Mother of 4 and career Astrologer does. She researches info-full, 'telling' articles, posts them and POSTS them at her website then sends the URL out to her TWITTER friends, her FACEBOOK readers and to her extensive EMAIL lists, --to people who she's noted are thinkers, do-ers and are likely to pass the information on. The themes? HOLISTIC HEALING without doctors, but also for CATS AND DOGS , TRUTHS the GOV WILL HIDE & NEVER TELL YOU, The FUTURE, WHAT'S COMIN' AT YA! FRUGAL LIFE STYLE TIPS, and ALL the things you'll need to do to SURVIVE the COMING GREAT DEPRESSION, Also cottage industries galore, like ARTISANRY FOR EXPORT, EARN EUROS... (and more.. see the dozen themes below) Anita is at astrology@earthlink.net ). Get a 15$ natal horoscope "my money/future life" reading now + copy horoscope as a Gif file graphic! No smarter, more accurate DESTINY/ career AND LOVE reading out there!
<==== BACK TO THE SHOW BUSINESS ARCHIVE, "HOLLYWOOD-BOUND SEMINAR"
<=== BACK TO THE HOLISTIC INDEX PAGE, HOW TO LIVE 150 YEARS
<=== BACK TO TRACKING THE ECONOMY, an INDEX PAGE
<===BACK TO MONEY SECRETS ONLY STREET SMART EXPERTS KNOW
<=== BACK TO DIRTY SECRETS which the GOV DOES NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW
<===BACK TO THE SECRETS OF THE OLIGARCHS, THE EMPIRE INDEX PAGE
<=== SHOW ME THE FIX INDEX PAGE.
<== SHOW ME THE HAPPY R)EVOLUTION PAGE
<=== BACK TO "GUERILLA CAPITALISM" -- THE SOLUTION!
<==== BACK TO THE "VITAL SIGNS OF A DYING ECONOMY" the "FUTURE" WEBPAGE
<==== BACK TO THE WALL STREET MELTDOWN WEBSITE, with "WHAT TO DO TO SURVIVE" TIPS
<=== BACK TO ENRON PLANET, the DOOMSDAY SCENARIO!
<====BACK TO THE HOLISTIC GOURMET, BON MARCHE
<=== BACK TO THE FRUGAL ARTISAN IMPORT/ EXPORT TYCOON AND HIS "STUFF"
<=== BACK TO THE GLEENERS PAGE
<== BACK TO THE FUTURE INDEX PAGE
<=== BACK TO THE GENTLEMAN FARMER'S GARDEN INDEX
<=== INVESTIGATE DOING DRIP IRRIGATE- LINES in DROUGHT STATE GARDENS for big $, learn in 1 hr at Home Depot
<=== BACK TO "DONE WELL, ACTIVISM IS A DELIGHT and IT CREATES CAREERS for YOU as well as PLANETARY EVOLUTION"
<=== BACK TO THE MALTHUSIAN INDEX PAGE
<===BACK TO THE PHILOSOPHY INDEX PAGE
<=== BACK TO THE LUCK IN LOVE WEBSITE
<== BACK TO THE PROPAGANDA STUDIES WEBSITE, HOW GOV LIES TO YOU
<=== BACK TO ALL POINTS OF THE COMPASS POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY TUTORIAL
<=== BACK TO JERRY'S REFRIGERATOR & the Tin Foil Hat Collection of CONSPIRACY THEORIES!
<====BACK TO THE FREE MONEY WEBSITE
<==== BACK TO THE HARD TIMES WEBSITE
<===== BACK TO THE POVERTY INDEX PAGE
<==== BACK TO THE "TIPS to SURVIVE THE FUTURE" INDEX PAGE
BACK TO THE "FIX YOUR FLAGGING AMBITION" SEMINAR
<== BACK TO THE SNOOKERED INDEX PAGE
<===BACK TO THE REALITY 101 SEMINAR FOR TEENS
<====HOW TO TINKER WITH OTHER PEOPLE's BRAINS for $ (TANTRUM YOGA, NO LICENSE REQ'D)<====BACK TO THE NEW AGE EMPOWERING INDEX
<===BACK TO "HOW TO MERCHANDISE YOURSELF" INDEX
<===BACK TO THE ALL ABOUT TAXES INDEX PAGE
<=== MEET ANITA SANDS WHO WRITES ALL THESE ARTICLES
<=== TAKE ME TO THE HOLISTIC PET, HOW NEVER TO NEED a VET
<=== BACK TO THE TRUTHS ABOUT DENTISTRY THAT WILL SAVE YOU 100 THOUSAND!
<=== BACK TO THE SNOOKERED WEBPAGE, HOAXES WE HAVE ALL KNOWN
<===BACK TO EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WEB STUFF (for dummies) so you can make your own website.
<=== BACK TO THE CONVERSATION INDEX
<=== BACK TO REAL ESTATE BUYING FOR THE POOR PERSON. IT CAN BE DONE!
<===== BACK TO THE PHILOSOPHIC/ POLITICAL DIFFERENCES INTERPRETED
<===BACK TO THE NUKE ME, I'M IMPERISHABLE! WEBSITE
<=== BACK TO "HOW TO MARRY A BILLIONAIRE" A 120 CLASSROOM SEMINAR for THE SUPER BEAUTY. How to GIVE UP JOCKS, HOTTIES & SAVE THE WORLD
<== BACK TO THE "HOW TO ACT IN, PRODUCE, WRITE AND SELL A MOVIE SCRIPT" WEBPAGE
<== BACK TO THE PORTAL to 7,000 USEFUL SEMINARS, ALL FREE, REPUBLISH ALL ONLINE, ATTRACT AD REVENUE